Violent Crime

The U.S. Department of Justice identified St. Louis as a city “most in need of crime-fighting resources.”

Milestones include establishing the city’s first Office of Violence Prevention and hiring Police Chief Robert Tracy, whose one-year anniversary was marked on Tuesday.

Homicides dropped by 21% between 2022 and 2023, and juvenile shootings were nearly cut in half last year. City leaders attribute the decline to various police efforts, but crime experts say there's more to consider — including COVID and national trends.

Homicides in the city of St. Louis have decreased 20% since last year, and juvenile shootings are down nearly 40% this year, according to Mayor Tishaura Jones' office.

The decision comes after a recent regional crime summit for the St. Louis area. The action by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments passed through a voice vote, with no audible dissent.

St. Louis officials are celebrating a big drop in murders while the city’s police classify more and more killings as “justifiable homicides” instead.

A group of government, community and business leaders will meet weekly for the next six weeks to come up with long-term solutions to increase public safety.

Illinois State Police introduced a new effort to help alleviate violent crime in East St. Louis during a press conference Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr says a surge of federal agents into St. Louis starting in August brought down violent crime by 17%. But experts are urging caution about the claim.

Missouri's 2020 special session on violent comes to an abrupt ending after House fails to consider several of Gov. Mike Parson's proposals.